How to Clear the Recommended Section in Windows 11 Start Menu

Are you looking to tidy up your Windows 11 Start Menu by removing the Recommended section? Clearing this area can help improve privacy, reduce clutter, and make your Start Menu more personalized. Whether you want to start fresh or simply hide suggested content, this step-by-step guide will walk you through the process with clear instructions. Before you begin, ensure your Windows 11 system is up to date and that you have administrative access to make system changes.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 11 PC with administrator rights
• Internet connection (for updates, if needed)
• Basic familiarity with Windows Settings and File Explorer

Step-by-Step

1. Open Windows Settings: Click on the Start menu and select the gear icon to open Settings. Alternatively, press Windows + I on your keyboard.
2. Navigate to Personalization: In the Settings window, click on “Personalization” from the sidebar.
3. Access the Start Settings: Within Personalization, select “Start” from the options listed.
4. Disable Show Recently Added and Recommended Items: Turn off the toggles for “Show recently added apps” and “Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer.” This will prevent Windows from displaying new recommendations.
5. Clear Existing Recommended Items: To remove current recommendations, you need to reset the Start menu cache. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box, then type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run Command Prompt as administrator.
6. Execute the Cache Reset Command: In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:

   DEL /F /Q /S %LocalAppData%\TileDataLayer\Database\TileDatabase

   This deletes the cache database that stores Start menu tiles and recommendations. Windows will rebuild it automatically.

7. Restart Your Computer: After the command executes, restart your PC to apply the changes. Upon reboot, the Recommended section should be cleared or significantly reduced.
8. Optional: Use Group Policy Editor for Further Control: If you want to prevent recommendations from appearing in the future, open the Group Policy Editor by typing gpedit.msc in the Run dialog. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar. Enable the setting Do not keep history of recently opened documents and Remove recent items menu from Start menu.

Common Mistakes

• Not running Command Prompt as administrator, which can prevent cache reset commands from executing properly.
• Forgetting to restart the PC after executing cache clearing commands, leading to unchanged recommendations.
• Disabling all suggestions without understanding that some recommended content may improve productivity.
• Using outdated Windows 11 versions that may not support all options or commands described.

Tips

• Create a system restore point before making advanced changes, so you can revert if needed.
• Regularly clear the cache if you want a consistently clean Start Menu.
• Use third-party tools cautiously; manual methods are safer.
• Adjust privacy settings in Windows to control what recommendations are shown in the future.

Troubleshooting

If the Recommended section persists after following these steps, try the following:

• Ensure you have restarted your computer after executing cache reset commands.
• Double-check that you ran Command Prompt as an administrator.
• If recommendations still appear, consider resetting Windows Explorer: open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), find “Windows Explorer,” right-click, and select “Restart.”
• Verify your Windows 11 version is up to date. Update via Windows Update if necessary.
• If issues persist, consider creating a new user profile to see if the problem is profile-specific.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I permanently disable the Recommended section in Windows 11?

Yes, by adjusting settings in Personalization and Group Policy, you can prevent recommendations from appearing.

Will clearing the cache delete my app data?

No, clearing the TileDatabase cache only affects the Start menu tiles and recommendations, not your personal app data.

Is it safe to run commands in Command Prompt as administrator?

Yes, but always ensure you type commands carefully to avoid unintended system changes.

How often should I clear the recommendations cache?

It’s up to you; do it whenever you want a fresh Start menu or notice clutter from suggestions.

Will removing recommendations affect Windows updates?

No, recommendations are separate from system updates and won’t impact your update process.

Can I restore the recommendations after clearing them?

Yes, re-enable relevant settings in Personalization or Group Policy, and Windows will start generating recommendations again.

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